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Is your pint-size poop machine outputting more than usual? Is more BM winding up on her back than in her diaper — or if she’s potty trained, more on the toilet seat than in the bowl? Besides being messy, diarrhea usually means that your darling’s dehydrated, and frequent, watery poops can make your critter uncomfortable and cause diaper rash if she’s still in nappies. So running the runs out of town is your mama mission — and knowing what’s causing diarrhea in your toddler or baby can get you closer to curing her. See if these symptoms match up with what your sweetie’s experiencing, and then check with your pediatrician for an official diagnosis and get-well plan.

If your baby or toddler has diarrhea and no other symptoms:

Possible causes of diarrhea:

Too much fruit juice (that itty-bitty body may not yet be able to absorb the sugars in juice)

Teething (even though many doctors don’t believe this can cause diarrhea in toddlers or babies, some moms swear it does)

Change in her diet — or your diet if you’re breastfeeding, especially if she or you are eating more fruits and vegetables, other sources of additional fiber, or foods to which your little one is sensitive

If your baby or toddler has diarrhea and her symptoms include:

If your baby or toddler has diarrhea and her symptoms include:

Vomiting

Fever

Stomach cramps

Muscle aches

Headache

Possible cause of diarrhea:

Caliciviruses, also called noroviruses, can infect children who have eaten contaminated foods (sometimes prepared by people who haven’t washed their hands well after using the restroom) or have put their own contaminated hands in their mouths. Call your pediatrician if you suspect this.